Many of us dream of one of our novels becoming a movie. For many it will remain a pipe-dream, but that doesn’t mean we should give up before even giving it a try. We can pursue the dream, or indeed the draw of the movie industry. There are some steps that need to be taken before the all important pitch.

To make it as easy as possible I’ve broken it down into four steps.

Step 1: Your Novel needs to be broken down Into three Acts

As with all novels we need a beginning, middle, and end, but screenplays require to be more “bare bones” and concise than a typical fictional narrative. There is no room for passages of description and character’s inner thoughts. The actual setting will be visual in the movie and interpreted by the movie director. It is not possible for inner thought to be portrayed on screen, so actions and reactions are required.

Our first step is to create a three-act structure ensuring each act serves a specific purpose and lays the groundwork for the next one. Be conscious of the pacing as this will dictate the movie’s progression. Read your novel and identify the plot points, inciting incidents and climax.

For each act you need to stay within a parameter of a number of pages.

Act 1

For your first act your screenplay should be approximately 30 pages. (No more). Things you’ll need to cover in Act 1:

• Character Introduction: Establish who they are and what is driving them. It is important to show them in action.
• Scene Setting: Paint a vivid picture using sensory details.
• Establish the Main Conflict: Introduce the main problem your protagonist faces and what the stakes are if they do not succeed.

Act 2

With Act 2 you can write approximately thirty to ninety pages this is a main element of the movie and where the story is told. Show your protagonist actively pursuing their goal and facing challenges that raise the stakes and propel them towards the climax. You’ll need to cover in Act 2.

• Protagonist Takes Charge: Your protagonist actively pursues their objective.
• Introduction of Obstacles and Roadblocks: Introduce complications for your protagonist to overcome, test their resolve and ability to adapt.
• Increase Tension: This will engage your audience as your protagonist overcomes more and more difficult obstacles and challenges.

Act 3

With Act 3 you can write approximately ninety to one hundred and twenty pages. This is where you have a satisfying outcome.

• Their Darkest Hour: This is the vital turning point where all seems lost.
• Climax and Resolution: The climax is the heart of this final act, where confrontation and resolution occurs.
• Optional Denouement: You may not need to add this brief scene to tie up loose ends and the aftermath of the climax.

PLOT POINTS – Find YOUR Pivotal Moments

Once you have identified where your acts start, find the pivotal moments. Each act should have two key turning points propelling the story forward. To aid with finding them here are a couple of examples:

• Act 1 Plot Point (Approximately Page 25): A major event forcing your protagonist to take decisive action and commit to the challenges of Act 2. 
• Act 2 Plot Point (Approximately Page 75): A second plot point throwing another obstacle or complication raising the stakes even higher and forcing them to adapt. 

Step 2: Edit exposition

Now, reread your novel and tighten it up getting rid of the long sections of description, or at least highly condensed them as they are not required due to the viewer actually seeing them. Keep all the dialogue as this will translate to the screen and convert any inner thought into an action. This editing will result in a concise version of the original story into screenplay form, with your major plot points mapped out.

Step 3: FOCUSED Editing

After completing step 2, you have more work to do as screenplays are normally around 120 pages. Each page translates into about a minute of screen time, and two hours is where you need to be. So begin going through what you have again and trim each act separately. Focus on each act and define what justifies inclusion, be ruthless as you ask – does it drive the story or character arc? Take your time over this step, it is vital.

Step 4: INCORPORATE And Refine

Once you have finished your focused editing you should have a first draft of your screenplay. At this point read all three acts together and ensure it flows. You may find gaps you need to bridge, or an extra scene is required, but be aware of the total length of the screenplay. Make adjustments where needed.

I hope this helps a little towards you giving a screenplay a go. There are also multiple resources on the ‘net’, you can utilize.

Good luck!

**Side note I am planning on converting Willow Tree Tears into a screenplay! Watch this space!**